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DAVE SNELL can NEVER RETIRE from being the VOICE of the BRADLEY BRAVES MEN'S BASKETBALL - LOL

G

Go_Braves

Member
I graduated from Bradley in May 1975 and a huge fan since 1971. Dave Snell graduated in 1976.
I have been listening to Dave Snell since 1979 when he started at WMBD. Today I watch the games
on TV here in Colorado - BUT I have my google home tuned in to WMBD during the men's basketball games.
I just love listening to Dave cover each game - and even with Chad Kleine as Dave's likely successor
it just won't be the same. (Sorry Chad - you also do an awesome job as well). I am now retired and I realize that
the same thought (retirement) is likely in the back of Dave's mind. I am going to really enjoy listening to
Dave call this Wednesday's Bradley NIT game. Thank you Dave for your dedication and being a top sports
announcer. When your retirement day comes - I'll miss your KA-BOOMS and everything else. But I'll always
have great memories of an incredible sports announcer.
 
I sat immediately behind Dave in an English class at ICC, but I don't remember having ever interacted with him. I don't remember the exact year I took this class, but I attended ICC from 1972-74 and graduated from NIU in 1976, the same year Dave graduated from Bradley.
 
I have given this a lot of thought as his Valley counterparts (Mike Reis, Art Hains, etc) have begun to step away in recent years for one reason or another. WHEN THE TIME COMES, my vote would be for Dave to go gradually, and not just drop the hammer abruptly. Perhaps do home games only for a couple seasons while we get accustomed to a new voice for the other games. And then I'd wish for Dave's fingerprints to remain on the broadcast for as long as he is able.

It's unfortunate that radio broadcasts are becoming more and more marginalized as video streaming continues to take over. But Dave and the radio presence are a bigger deal at BU than just about anywhere else (I know of NO other college basketball broadcast that features a one-hour pregame show). I also sync Dave/Chad up whenever I can, and his identity is a HUGE part of Bradley basketball--a totally outsized impact in comparison to other schools.
 
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Dave is very close to finishing the book he is writing about Bradley and his experiences over his career. He has been in the process of writing the book for several years. I hope he publishes it soon. I'll be one of the first to buy and read it.
 
Dave Snell is amazing…. A huge part of why I even follow this great program. Dave is an absolute legend.
 
He's great, as I've written before, we're lucky to have him. I also assume that Chad Kleine is a very nice man and knowledgeable about basketball. But IMO he is a TERRIBLE broadcaster. He doesn't let Dave describe the action, he doesn't articulate his points well. I imagine he'll stay when Dave retires, but if he's the play by play guy, what a disservice.
 
Chad is not a play by play guy, and I don't see him replacing Dave. Chad struggled the first couple years as an analyst, because he'd never done anything like that before. But IMO, he's improved a lot and does a good job now. Has anyone heard his version of the pregame program this season? Chad is terrific in that type of prepared program.
 
Have a friend up there in years, he remembers Jack Brick house. Local boy who attended Bradley and began his career in the late 30's broadcasting Bradley games.
 
I was really p.o.'ed when WIRL quit broadcasting Bradley games because I too loved listening to Mort Cantor. Took me a few years to come around to Dave.
 
houstonbrave said:
I listened to Mort growing up. I can’t even remember who did wmbd before Dave.
Click to expand...
I believe it was Mark Holtz of WMBD.

In his obituary, it says he did Bradley basketball broadcasts from 1971-1975, then left to do University of Colorado football and basketball.
He eventually became more well known as the long time play-by-play broadcaster for the MLB Texas Rangers
www.findagrave.com

Mark Paul Holtz (1945-1997) - Find a Grave...

It's baseball time in Texas!.... Play by play announcer for Texas Rangers Baseball 1981-1997. Mark would announce Hello Win Column! following a Rangers win. Graduate of Wartburg College in Waverly, Iowa. Won Texas Sportscaster of the Year award 8 times. Worked sports desk at KOLT in...
www.findagrave.com www.findagrave.com
 
I couldn't remember Holtz either. I would have been listening to Bradley Basketball at that time and before. I just remember Mort's enthusiasm for Bradley.
 
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